Last few games are Fesenko's training camp

April 15, 2012|Reuters

The Sports Xchange

NBA Team Report - Indiana Pacers - GETTING INSIDE

Center Kyrylo Fesenko finally made his Pacers debut, three weeks to the day after signing with them on Friday against Cleveland. Now it's uncertain when he'll step foot back on the court during a game again.

Coach Frank Vogel wants to get Fesenko some playing time before the playoffs start in less than two weeks, but Vogel doesn't want to do anything to mess up the team's continuity as the Pacers work to get home court in the first round of the playoffs.

The Pacers are 8-1 this month and currently the third seed in the Eastern Conference, with six games remaining. Lou Amundson has been backing up starting center Roy Hibbert for most of the season.

"It is important to us to get (Fesenko) up to speed with all our plays and defensive schemes and continue to have him work on getting into game shape," Vogel said. "We may very well need him. We're dealing with a juggling act."

Fesenko had two points and three rebounds in seven minutes of mop-up duty against the Cavaliers on Friday.

"It felt really nice to get back to the NBA," Fesenko said. "I think the team supported me a lot. I really appreciate the help the coaches have been giving me in learning things."

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NBA Team Report - Indiana Pacers - NOTES, QUOTES

--The Pacers are an NBA-best 8-1 this month. Their lone loss came to Boston on April 8. They can make it nine wins with a victory Monday against Minnesota. "We're playing with a desperate attitude because we really want the seed we're at right now," Danny Granger said.

--The Pacers can spoil the playoff plans of Milwaukee or Philadelphia along the way to trying to lock up home court in the first round of the playoffs. The Pacers play the Bucks and 76ers four times in their final seven games, which included Saturday's victory in Milwaukee. The Bucks are trying to catch the 76ers for the eighth seed.

"If we can have both of those teams go 0-2 (against us) in those games, then it'll be a push," coach Frank Vogel said. "Neither one will be mad at us."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We need to continue to grow defensively and stepping up to the challenge of getting stops, getting rebounds and executing in the fourth quarter. We're still growing, still playing hard and that's all we can do at this current point, knowing every game means something to us." -- F David West.

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NBA Team Report - Indiana Pacers - ROSTER REPORT

PLAYER NOTES:

--C Roy Hibbert recorded his third straight double-double and 19th of the season when he finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds Saturday.

--F Danny Granger went 2-of-2 from the free throw line to give him 26 straight makes from the line. He also scored 21 points.

--G Paul George finished with 10 points to score in double figures for the first time in four games. He has cracked double figures in points just three times in the past nine games.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--G Darren Collison missed his fourth straight game with a groin injury.